The Alexandria Police Department is investigating last Sunday morning’s fire, which affected multiple businesses in the 5200 block of Duke Street, as a commercial robbery and arson.
As previously reported, multiple businesses were affected when the fire started at Diko Bar & Hookah Lounge (5243 Duke Street).
With the odor of Sunday’s fire fading from a neighboring business, Shooter McGee’s (5249 Duke Street) reopened today (Tuesday).
A number of neighboring businesses have been closed since the Sunday morning (March 30) blaze in the 5200 block of Duke Street. AFD posted notifications outside the Blessed Smiles dental office at 5241 Duke Street and Hair Loom (5247 Duke Street) stating that the businesses were unsafe to occupy due to smoke and water damage. According to a staffer, the dental office expects to be closed for the rest of this week.
What a week in Alexandria. If we were making hay instead of paragraphs, the barn would be full.
Alexandria is bracing for the impact of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Melanie Kay-Wyatt says that the school system is “deeply concerned” and that the action raises questions about future federal support.
Got an issue to raise to local leaders in Alexandria? Later this month, City Council will hold a town hall meeting to get feedback and discuss upcoming projects.
The meeting will be held on Saturday, March 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Redella S. “Del” Pepper Community Resource Center (4850 Mark Center Drive) in the city’s West End.
What a busy week it’s been in Alexandria.
Our top story was on big changes planned for 400 King Street in Old Town. The building takes over an entire city block and is currently home to The Alexandrian Old Town Hotel at 480 King Street and Southern restaurant King & Rye.
A 39-year-old Alexandria man is being held without bond and goes to court this month after allegedly firing a handgun at three people in a fleeing vehicle in the West End.
The chilling incident occurred on Jan. 6 – the same day as a snowstorm that shut down the city and closed the school system.
A 28-year-old D.C. resident faces multiple charges after allegedly eluding the Alexandria Police Department in the city’s West End.
The man was arrested on January 13 for reckless driving and disregarding a police command to stop during an attempted traffic stop near the 200 block of S. Van Dorn Street on the evening of Friday, Nov. 22, 2024.
After a four-day trial, a jury this week ignored an insanity defense and found an Alexandria man guilty of murdering an acquaintance in the BJ’s Wholesale Club in 2021.
On Wednesday, March 5, Rakibul Fakir, was convicted of first-degree murder for the stabbing death of 29-year-old Abiy Zemene inside the store at 101 S. Van Dorn Street on Sept. 25, 2021.
More details have been released on the alleged attempted abduction and sexual assault near Holmes Run Dog Park last fall, as well as the arrest of a suspect.
The incident occurred at around 6 p.m. on Oct. 29. A suspect, 21-year-old Rohid Hakimi, was arrested on Nov. 14 — two weeks after the incident occurred. He is currently being held without bond in the Alexandria jail.
The City of Alexandria could finally be making safety improvements to the West End’s infamous Sanger Avenue.
At a meeting of the Traffic and Parking Board last night (Monday), the Board unanimously backed a series of changes aimed at improving safety on Sanger Avenue between North Beauregard Street and Van Dorn Street.
A 41-year-old Alexandria man was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison for executing the family dog in a fit of rage, according to Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter.
Sean Nikai Callender was sentenced on Jan. 23 after being convicted of felony animal cruelty and reckless handling of a firearm. The incident occurred on Feb. 25, 2024, in an apartment in the 4300 block of Raleigh Avenue, which is near the Shoppes of Foxchase on Duke Street.
